Marine mammals (whales, dolphins and seals) and marine turtles are protected species under the jurisdiction of two U.S. government agencies, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Marine mammals are threatened by human interaction in the form of incidental capture, gear entanglement, plastic ingestion and boat strikes. Sea turtles are threatened not only by disease and natural predators, but also by human interaction such as the destruction of critical nesting habitat, the taking of eggs, fishing activity and boat traffic.

The Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program is administered by NMFS and includes volunteer stranding networks in all coastal states. In Maryland, the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Network has been administered jointly by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources at the Cooperative Oxford Lab (COL) and by the National Aquarium in Baltimore (NAIB) since the fall of 1990. COL stranding personnel respond to dead stranded animals, while the NAIB responds to live animals.

For each animal the latitude and longitude of the stranding location are recorded along with morphometric data, carcass condition (freshly dead, moderately decomposed, severely decomposed, skeleton/bones only, dried carcass) and sex. Animals are photographed and examined for commensal organisms, tags and external signs of injury. Each animal is then evaluated for signs of human interaction from boat or ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, bullet wounds, plastic ingestion, etc. A necropsy is performed to determine cause of death and stomach contents are evaluated for feeding activity, prey composition and ingestion of plastics. Samples are collected for histo-pathology, microbiology, toxicology, and virology from fresh carcasses. Samples for research and educational purposes are also collected and sent to authorized institutions.

From October 1990 through December 2006 COL stranding personnel responded to 187 dead stranded marine mammals (representing 20 species) in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay (27 animals) and along Maryland’s Atlantic coastline (201 animals). During this time network members responded to 387 dead stranded sea turtles (representing 4 species) in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay (143 turtles) and along Maryland’s Atlantic coastline (244 turtles). The COL stranding network also assisted the National Aquarium in Baltimore and neighboring states with stranded (live and dead) animals.

Remember that whales, dolphins and seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The MMPA made it illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill or to attempt to do any of these things to marine mammals in United States waters and by United States citizens on the high seas. It also placed a ban on the importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products into the United States. It is illegal for you to approach, feed, pet or swim with wild marine mammals. Threatened and endangered marine mammals and sea turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. For their protection, please admire these animals from a distance.
Stranded common dolphin
Common Dolphin
Minke whale found stranded in the Chesapeake Bay
Minke Whale
Loggerhead sea turtle found stranded along Maryland's Atlantic Coast
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Stranded harp seal
Harp Seal
Propeller wounds on a loggerhead sea turtle
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Net marks and severed flukes on a bottlenose dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin

Can you answer these questions?

What's the difference between a Dolphin and a Porpoise?

What are the different types of Sea Turtles in Maryland waters?

How are Marine Mammals classified?

 
If you see a stranded animal...
  1. Record its location.
  2. Identify species or note color, length, head shape, dorsal fin shape and position.
  3. Note carcass condition — alive, fresh dead, moderate decomposition, advanced decomposition, skeleton.
  4. Note obvious signs of human interaction — entangled in gear or plastic, propeller wounds, etc.
  5. Note the environment — e.g. fishing nets in area or a large whale in a narrow, shallow creek.
  6. Call the Natural Resources Police 24 Hour Hotline at 1-800-628-9944 and a Stranding Network member will respond.

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